Chapter 6
SIX
Traitorous balls
REED
Motherfucking phone.
I had her. I fucking had her.
A confession was on the tip of her pretty pink tongue. She was mere moments from telling me everything. Or kissing me. Either would have been acceptable. Both would have been even better.
It’s been a while since I’ve been alone with Lila, and I forgot how powerful my attraction to her was.
Rather . . . how powerful it is.
I’ll admit that I lost control. I let my desire mingle a bit too potently with my need to manipulate the truth out of her.
In the casino, it’s easier to avoid lusting over her.
All the other temptations at that place battle for top billing in my mind.
She’s one of them, but not as insistent as the others.
Of course, I still notice how stunning she is each time I see her.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a man who doesn’t take note of that.
Lila has curves that go on for days. Hips begging for my hands. An ass ripe for squeezing. That glossy hair. Those full lips. And that radiant fucking smile.
She’s a damn siren.
Yet resisting the draw is easier in the bright lights and clamor of the casino.
Here, though? Alone with her? Forget it.
Something primal sparked to life inside of me as soon as I saw her in the living room. Arousal detonated around us. Just like it did on the night of my father’s funeral.
I shouldn’t have trusted her that night.
And I shouldn’t now.
However, something’s different about her this time. Not only are her walls up like never before, but there’s pain shining in her eyes, tainting their vibrancy. Like something inside her is fractured. I recognize it because it’s so familiar.
It makes me wonder if she’s always been this way, or if it’s a new thing.
If it isn’t a fresh wound, then she’s damn good at hiding it. Unlike whatever’s happening with my sister and the man from the casino—Elliot Riddick. She’s transparent as glass about that shit.
We identified that piece of shit felon through facial recognition from the million cameras in the casino. Although he has a significant criminal history as part of the STK gang, there isn’t evidence of any recent criminal activity. I can’t bring him in for an interrogation based on a hunch.
Once I find out what Lila knows about him, I should be able to connect the dots. And since her ex-boyfriend obviously knows him, there’s no way she’s as innocent as she claims to be.
That Silas is bad news, if that’s even his real name.
Despite the clear photo, we didn’t get any hits on facial rec for him, which was the first red flag.
His background is beyond sketchy. There’s barely anything on him.
Like he didn’t exist until a year ago. All we know is he’s involved in something.
Lila holds the key to unlocking the truth.
Despite our absurd chemistry, I won’t let my guard down with her.
Never again.
As soon as she swipes her phone screen and puts it to her ear, she scurries down the hall, leaving me in the kitchen with nothing but my racing thoughts. By the time I make it to her bedroom, she’s already locked the door.
Well, she can’t stay in there forever. I’ve got time to kill and patience to spare.
Fortunately, Lila doesn’t make me wait long.
She comes barreling out of her room, brushing past me like I’m nothing more than a gnat.
Naturally, my eyes catch on her tempting ass as she races toward the living room.
Huh. Said ass is covered with tight denim instead of the loose cotton pajama shorts she was wearing earlier. Not sure which I like the most.
“Where are you off to, Lila?” I check my watch and add, “At one in the morning.”
She kneels to gather up the spilled contents of her purse. “I’m leaving to go see a friend. I’ll have Kenzie call you as soon as she comes home.”
Terrific. What little progress I made with her is gone. All from one mysterious phone call.
“Was that him?” I ask, my voice laced with razors.
After jerking to her feet, she hustles into the foyer. “Him who?”
“My money is on either Silas or Elliot.”
Lila’s entire body stiffens, and her foot pauses halfway into her sandal. She gradually cranes her neck toward me, revealing a blank expression. “Who’s Elliot?”
“I’ve been asking you the same thing all night,” I toss calmly, just waiting for her to crumble under the pressure.
That’s right, Lila. I know his name.
Returning her gaze to the floor, she finishes slipping on her sandals.
“Listen, Reed. I don’t know who Elliot is, but based on context, he’s the creepy guy from the casino.
Makes sense you found his name. You’d make a terrible agent if you hadn’t by now.
” She turns to face me, tossing her purse over her shoulder.
“And no, that wasn’t him on the phone. As I’ve stated multiple times, I’ve never spoken to that man. ”
“Silas, then?” I press, arching a knowing brow and slowly approaching her.
Her eyes slash to the door and back, and she licks her plump lips.
That’s a big ol’ yes in nonverbal form.
“Look, I need to go. Talk later.” She yanks open the door, taking a giant step onto the porch. “Or never. That would be ideal.”
My feet propel me swiftly to the porch to trail after her. She’s marching down the sidewalk toward her car, which is at least two hundred feet from her front door. It’s a fairly large complex with clusters of apartment buildings, meandering walkways, and patches of greenery. Plenty of trees.
After locking the door for her, I double-time it to catch up. “You realize I’m just going to follow you, right?”
She fumbles to get her keys out of her bag. “Reed, you really need to get a life. I already told you that you and I are never happening again. You’re just coming off desperate and a touch pathetic.”
Rolling my eyes, I easily deflect the barb. She couldn’t be more transparent, trying to piss me off so I won’t give two shits that she’s diving headfirst into trouble.
Beating her to her car by a step, I place my hand on the door to prevent her from opening it. “Funny that you think I’d ever give you another chance after what you did the last time. Besides, you know I’m only here because—”
Her head flings back like her neck’s made of springs. “I beg your finest pardon! What the fuck did you just say to me?”
My jaw sags, and my eyes pop out of my head. I swear a tray of glasses broke somewhere in the distance.
Sweet little Lila Kent just said fuck.
Honey-coated, cotton candy, dipped in syrup Lila Kent.
Just. Said. Fuck.
Actually, she yelled it.
At me.
I’m unsure which of us is more shocked. Lila’s facial features quickly shift to mirror mine, except she smacks her hand over her mouth.
Clearly, I’ve touched a nerve by mentioning our past. Interesting.
It takes us a solid five seconds before we break from the stunned silence. She starts blinking rapidly, and her hand slowly lowers, revealing a substantially less traumatized expression.
As for me, a taunting smile slowly crawls up my face. “Well, looks like I said something triggering for you. Later, we can circle back—”
The little lines beside her eyes crinkle as her indignation returns with a vengeance. “Triggering? I can’t believe you said that. Wow. Where’s your forklift, Reed?”
“My what?”
“To haul around all this audacity. You must have backed it in here on a flatbed.”
She clicks her tongue, shaking her head. Despite being several inches shorter, she manages to look down at me. I’d be impressed by that if I weren’t utterly baffled by her reaction.
She knows damn well what she did.
“Whatever, Lila. This isn’t the time to be gaslit down memory lane. Just tell me where you’re going in such a hurry.”
Her pretty copper eyes flash with realization, and a tiny gasp escapes through her succulent lips. “Oh, crud. You’re right. I do need to hurry.”
“Talk to me, or I’m not letting you go.”
Silence stretches for a few moments. She bunches her lips to the corner of her mouth, bouncing her gaze around so she’s looking everywhere but at me.
Seemingly doing an about-face, she timidly asks, “Where are you parked?”
“Um.” I pause, searching for an appropriate response or the hidden meaning in her question.
Yes, I know where I parked my car.
No, I don’t have a clue why she’s asking. After the earlier forklift comment, I don’t want to walk into another trap. We’re wasting time.
Plus, I don’t like not knowing things around this woman.
While I turn over my thoughts, she softens before me. All her earlier frustration seems to turn to mist, floating away from us. Now there’s only the diabetic-coma-causing woman she shows the world.
Her mask is back in place, which gives me a hint of comfort. This is the woman I know how to handle. Not the viper she was inside her apartment.
Using a faux-pleasant tone, she says, “Reed, listen. I just realized something. And it changes things.”
If I narrow my eyes at her any further, I won’t be able to see. “Go on.”
“Well, you were right about one thing. It was Silas who called. He took something without permission when we broke up. He’s finally agreed to return it, but only if I go right now.”
“In the middle of the night? That’s shady.”
“Yes, that’s what I just realized. It is shady.
Exactly.” She nods, her eyes shimmering with an easy vibrancy that’s simultaneously forced and natural.
Odd. “And since I don’t particularly trust him, I think it would be great if you went with me.
” More vigorous head nodding, which threatens to activate my dirty mind.
With a bit of effort, I push away thoughts of how I’d love to see her nodding that way as she wrapped those lips around my cock. “So you want me to come for your safety?”
“Since you’re all up in my business tonight, it would be foolish to turn away your protection for what will hopefully be my last encounter with Silas. Ever.”
Some of the lightness she’s forced into her facade dulls a bit when she finishes, revealing how much she really dislikes him.